For righteousness without a flaw
Is righteousness without the law. b

In duty's way I'm bound to lie, c
Yet out of duties bound to fly: d
Hence merit I renounce with shame, e
Yet right to life by merit claim. ƒ

All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Rom. iv. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.

b Rom. iii. 20–22. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.

c Prov. viii. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

d Isa. lvii. 12. I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works, for they shall not profit thee. Luke xvii. 10. When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

e Psalm xvi. 2. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord; my goodness extendeth not to thee. Ezek. xxxvi. 32. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you; be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

Merit of perfect righteousness
I never had, g yet never miss; h
On this condition I have all, i
Yet all is unconditional.j

f Rom. v. 18, 19. By the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Isa. xlv. 24, 25. Surely, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel

be justified, and shall glory.

g Rom. iii. 9, 10. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise for we have proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not Ver. 19. Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

one.

h 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us-righteousness. Isa. xlv. 24. See letter f. Jer. xxiii. 6. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

:

i Isa. xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake, he will magnify the law, and make it honorable. Matt. iii. 15. Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Ver. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

j Isa. lv. 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea,

Though freest mercy I implore, k
Yet I am safe on justice' score,
Which never could the guilty free, m
Yet fully clears most guilty me. n

come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price. Rev. xxii. 17. Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

k Psalm li. 1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

7 Rom. iii. 24, 25, 26. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 1 John i. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

m Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God,-that will by no means clear the guilty.

n Rom. iv. 5. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

SECTION VII.

THE MYSTERY OF GOD THE JUSTIFIER, (ROM. III. 26,) JUSTIFIED

BOTH IN HIS JUSTIFYING AND CONDEMNING; OR SOUL-JUSTIFICATION AND SELF-CONDEMNATION.

My Jesus needs not save, a yet must; b

He is my hope, c I am his trust: d

a Rom. ix. 5. Christ is over all, God blessed forever.

b John x. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Ver. 18. No man taketh it [my life] from me, but I lay it down of myself; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father. Luke ii. 49. And Jesus said unto them [Joseph and his mother], How is it that ye sought me ? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

c Jer. xiv. 8. O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, &c. Chap. xvii. 17. Be not a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of evil. 1 Tim. i. 1. Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Saviour, and the Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.

d John xvii. 6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me. 2 Tim. i. 12. I know whom I have believed; and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

He paid the double debt, well known
To be all mine, yet all his own. e

Hence, though I ne'er had more or less
Of justice-pleasing righteousness, ƒ
Yet here is one wrought to my hand,
As full as justice can demand. g

By this my Judge is more appeas'd
Than e'er my sin his honor leas'd. h

e Isa. liii. 4—6. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Ver. 8. For the transgression of my people was he stricken. Heb. vii. 22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. f Rom. iii. 9, 10, 19. See letter g forecited.

g Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, &c. Zech. xiii. 7. Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon the little

ones.

h Rom. v. 8-11. But God commendeth his love towards us,